At the end of seven days, so subtle had he become
in all kinds of hunting, and so strengthened by the meat and herbs
upon which he existed, that he disdained to avail himself of the
shelter of a tree, but standing openly by the side of the water, he
engaged the attention of the first tiger which came to drink, and
discharged arrow after arrow into its body with unfailing power and
precision. So entrancing, indeed, had the pursuit become that the next
seven days lengthened out into the apparent period of as many moons,
in such a leisurely manner did they rise and fall. On the appointed
day, without waiting for the evening to arrive, the youth set out with
the first appearance of light, and penetrated into the most
inaccessible jungles, crying aloud words of taunt-laden challenge to
all the beasts therein, and accusing the ancestors of their race of
every imaginable variety of evil behaviour. Yet so great had become
the renown of the one who stood forth, and so widely had the warning
voice been passed from tree to tree, preparing all who dwelt in the
forest against his anger, that not even the fiercest replied openly,
though low growls and mutterings proceeded from every cave within a
bow-shot's distance around.
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